Virus week

Yep, unfortunately it's been a week to catch any passing virus, including the nasty stomach one who made me look like a model in no time but also affected badly my already skinny toddler too! Now I'm facing the challenge of feeding him better than ever, promoting a business, developing a business, working my day job, and last but not least - studying for exams... When does a modern woman get a break? How do you do it ladies?

I've always admired women who manage to have family time, a career or their own business, and time for themselves as well. I constantly feel like losing it. Somewhere between the healthy meals that require regular shopping for fresh food, the maintenace of a website, the tweeting/blogging/reading/following, playing and enjoying family, etc., I get lost. One of these always has to be sacrificed in my messy everyday life. Today it was the studying that had to be neglected, so I can sit here and have a nice little writing session. :)

Still, I have some interesting links for today. As you know, I get the Forbes newsletter and I always follow their Life section with interest. I found out that they have extensive archive and here is Forbes' Destination Of the Week for the past few years: http://search.forbes.com/search/storyTypeSearch?storyType=Destination+Of+The+Week

And here is another of my favourites - Elite Wine, Food and Travel magazine: http://www.elitewinefoodtravel.com/magazine/

I have always found particular meals remind me of places I have visited, and it is not mandatory that the meal originated from the place. Sometimes the association is unclear even to me. It's like perfumes which I smell on the street and turn immediately because my brain has connected the aroma with a powerful memory of a person, occasion, event. I find this beautiful. And because I'm thinking of the sea these days, and my feet can almost feel the tender sand, I made fish, potatoes sote and a big salad for supper. The white wine is cooling down in the fridge. I guess it's time to cool down the "little grey cells" too. :)

Summer is here!

Hello everyone! Summer is here! I'm excited and a little sad. The latter is a result of the fact that I won't have a vacation anytime soon. I'm also getting a bit tired of the endless job search. Some ideas about my own business cause me sleepless nights but in the absense of any capital, there is little hope for my ideas to become true. However, I read a blog a few days ago where the author was explaining this trend in the USA - the financial and employment crisis increased significantly the number of people who decided to take the risk and start their own business, despite the fact that banks are far more difficult to lend money these days. Isn't that interesting? It may turn out the crisis will bring some good luck too...

Otherwise, I've been cooking some light food lately as the warm weather doesn't motivate me for heavy meals. If you haven't tried the traditional South European cold soup Tarator, now is the time. It is light, refreshing, and very healthy.


*The photo courtesy of Wikipedia.org

Tarator

one yogurt

one cucumber

one-two cloves of garlic

one handfull of crushed wallnuts

two-three tablespoons of sunflower oil

dill

Beat the yogurt very well until it is liquid, add the grated cucumber, the finely cut garlic and the wallnuts. Add the oil and mix all very well. Add one-two cups of cold water. You can add ice cubes too. If you prefer it a bit salty, add some salt. At the end add finely cut dill - just a spoon. Enjoy!